Luke Nguyen's Railway Vietnam (2019)

Episode Overview

Luke travels to Hoi An, taking a ten-hour train ride from Danang in a sleeper carriage. During the journey, he challenges himself by cooking wok-tossed beef in the train’s kitchen, which proves to be quite tricky. Upon arriving in Hoi An, he visits a family renowned for their chilli sauce, a craft they've honed over five generations, and observes the meticulous handpicking and sorting of each chilli. Next, he heads to the famed Japanese covered bridge, built in 1719, where he prepares chicken rice with the enthusiastic assistance of local residents. He then explores Tho Village, meeting Mr. Thi, a fourth-generation blacksmith who transforms old bomb shells from the Vietnam War into knives. As Luke wraps up his time in Hoi An, he celebrates his mother-in-law's birthday by cooking her beloved noodle dish, cao lau, which is a specialty of the region.